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Experience the Feeling of Community in Marshall, Michigan

June 1, 2022

The city of Marshall holds a dear place in our hearts at Norfolk Homes. Not only was it the city where two of our first condominium communities of Brewer Farms and Brewer Woods came to life over 20 years ago, it is also the residence of one of our owners, Patty Franke Williams, and the longtime home of Patty and Jim’s father, Thomas Franke, who recently passed away this past March. 

Within a city filled with the kind of love that can only come from a small town with a strong sense of community, Thomas will be deeply missed by everyone who was lucky enough to have known him. With his love for the city and for the construction industry in mind, we are grateful for the opportunity to get back to our roots and welcome one of our newest communities, Emerald Hills, to the area. 

Introducing Emerald Hills

With two quick occupancy homes available for sale now, you could be moving into a newly constructed home sooner than you think. The two plans under construction are the Linwood and Southwood. 

If you are looking for a larger home on over an acre, Norfolk Homes has purchased a homesite   located 4.5 miles North of Emerald Hills in the Kesselwood Community. We will be building The Chesterfield Plan, 2978 square feet, featuring a three car garage, a view-out basement, 4 bedrooms, 4 full bathrooms, and a first floor study.

We are breaking ground on the Townhomes at Emerald Hills, offering two plans, The Rosedale and the Redhill. Three of the four townhomes under construction are for sale and the fourth will be a model home. The townhomes feature 3 bedrooms,1.5 baths, an open first floor plan with square footage from 1631-1641.

Emerald Hills Location 

Where you choose to live is just as important as the overall home design you select. The Emerald Hills Community offers you an ideal place to live an active lifestyle. As part of The  Emerald Hills Golf Club , it’s a golf lover’s ultimate dream to be able to tee off in a matter of minutes after leaving your home. For a limited time, Norfolk Homes will include one year’s golf  membership with the purchase of either a single family home or townhome.  

Being in close proximity to both I-69 and I-94, Emerald Hills offers residents the perfect place to settle down if your travels or work life take you away from the city. The location is also ideal for families with school-aged children, as the education system within the city is hard to beat. Marshall Academy and Marshall Public Schools both offer incredible opportunities for your kids to grow their academic learning, athletic interests and extracurricular activities. 

A city full of possibilities

With just over 7,000 residents making up the city of Marshall, the area offers both a small-town feel and incredible activities and events for residents to enjoy. To truly get a good look into the history of the city, perhaps the first activity you’ll want to add to your calendar is a Marshall Carriage Company tour. What better way to get acquainted with the area than to take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage and listen to the historical stories of the city while moving through the downtown streets? Your next stop should also include the Brooks Memorial Fountain, a historic landmark in the city that was built in 1930 and serves as the location of a number of events throughout the year, as well as being an ideal spot to sit and relax on a beautiful day.  

The outdoor areas are truly incredible to behold throughout Marshall. Baker Sanctuary is a wildlife park and reserve that offers a number of peaceful walking trails to explore. Brooks Nature Area is another great outdoor spot where you can easily spend your afternoon and take in the beauty of the natural scenery. 

For a night filled with incredible entertainment options, the Bogar Theater is the perfect date-night location with the latest films being shown on any given weekend. Of course, it wouldn’t be a true blog about Marshall if we didn’t include The Franke Center for the Arts. Perhaps one of the most beloved organizations he was able to work with, Thomas Franke played a major role in making the Center everything it is today. Come experience the Intimate venue with the ultimate experience. World class performers as well as local talent can be found playing at The Franke Center.

What our locals love about Marshall

Our team at Norfolk Home can’t say enough good things about the city of Marshall, and we know that our future homeowners will fall in love with the area as much as we have. 

“I love the sense of community that you can have by living in a small town. People truly care about one another. Marshall is a small town with the many advantages and opportunities of a larger city. Marshall has a very vibrant arts community. The Franke Center schedule of concerts, shows and theater are very diverse and entertaining.  They have a children’s theater like no other.  The Great Escape theater offers live theater in a smaller theater setting and the Eastend Gallery & Studio is an ever changing art gallery with items for sale and classes offered. So many wonderful events are always happening around town. Shopping the many different varities  of  stores  in downtown Marshall is a treat.  It’s a bonus to get to know the shop owners and get that personalized service.. I love walking around the streets of Marshall and looking at the lovely homes and gardens and of course the fountain! It’s like a Norman Rockwell Painting!”

-Patty Franke Williams

“As a kid I was a huge supporter of Marshall High School sports. I went to every home football and basketball game. I loved to go to Ice Cream Dream and Sidetracks (now called True North). The fountain is definitely a landmark that is always an enjoyable thing to pass around or even sit by. I spent a lot of dinners at Schuler’s restaurant downtown. Around the holidays, our town does a great job decorating, so coming down for the Christmas parade was an annual thing.”

-Aidan 

“Growing up in Marshall was really special! What comes to mind when I think about my childhood includes being able to walk and bike to all my friends’ houses and school. I grew up attending dance classes, and I was a part of the dance company at The Repertoire downtown Marshall, and that was so amazing. I spent probably every summer at Northwood Swim Club and participating in the youth theater at the Franke Center. Louie’s Bakery also comes to mind! The community is so tight knit, it really feels like family always. I also really loved kayaking at Stuart’s Landing with my friends, and I spent many fun days at friends' houses on Lyon Lake.”

-Grace 

If you are interested in learning more about The Emerald Hills Community, fill out our online form to schedule a tour today or stop by The Emerald Hills Clubhouse on Saturday and Sunday June 4th and 5th from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM and meet Lisa Linton, our new home specialist for the community.